In Eastern Finland, efforts are underway to strengthen the retention of international talent even before immigration. The University of Eastern Finland has launched a training programme in the country of origin to support students' settlement and encourage them to stay in the region after graduation.
The training provides students with skills in Finnish language, society and working life, and supports the whole family's settlement. The pilot covers students selected for the international degree programmes in economics and business administration, and in health sciences, on the Kuopio campus. The aim is to expand the training to all international programmes next year.
Students can begin their Finnish language studies in their country of origin through the university's new independently completed S2 (Finnish as a second language) online course. Language studies also include familiarising themselves with the area, such as Kuopio and Joensuu.
In addition, students can familiarise themselves with Finnish working life through the Towards Working Life in Eastern Finland online course. The course helps you identify your strengths and prepare for an internship and job search in Finland. In open Teams meetings, students can discuss practical issues with a university specialist.
Students' families have also been considered in the training. In cooperation with the City of Kuopio, webinars have been organised on early childhood and basic education, as well as practical matters such as applying for a day care place. In addition, there is cooperation with International House operators in Kuopio and Joensuu to provide families with information about the region's services and leisure activities.
“We want to improve the settling-in experience of international students and increase their chances of staying in Eastern Finland after graduation”, says Miia Maaninen, International Affairs Service Coordinator.
The country-of-origin training is part of the Finnish Economic Development Centre's Stay with us service pilot. Its goal is to strengthen the retention power of North Savo and Northern Finland in the eyes of international talent. In addition to the University of Eastern Finland, Savonia University of Applied Sciences, the University of Lapland and Lapland University of Applied Sciences are involved in the pilot.
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